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Services at public health facilities in Kisumu, Kakamega and Mombasa were grounded following the nurses’ national strike, which enters its second day on Tuesday. Nurses hold a demonstration in the streets of Mombasa. Their national strike enters its second day on Tuesday. PHOTO: KEVIN ODIT/STANDARD

Most of the nurses in Nyanza Provincial Hospital, Kakamega Provincial Hospital, Kajiado District Hospital, Mombasa Provincial Hospital and Machakos General Hospital did not show up for work, but it was business as usual at Nairobi hospitals.

However, the Union of Kenya Civil Servants, which represents nurses in public hospitals, dismissed the strike as failed, claiming nurses refused to respond to it. The union Head of Medical Chapter Evans Nasebe said many nurses understood the dangers of going on strike with an unregistered trade union.

Kenya National Union of Nurses Secretary General Seth Panyako told The Standard they will conduct a protest march to the Ministry of Labour on Tuesday to demand for the registration certificate. He accused Labour Minister John Munyes of arrogance.

“Until now, the minister has not even contacted us to resolve the matter. He is indifferent to the plight of Kenyans suffering in public hospitals,” he said.

Rejects negotiations On Monday, National Nurses Association of Kenya chairperson Wilson Ochieng’ gave the Government a 48-hour ultimatum to issue KNUN certificate of registration or nurses at the Kenyatta National Hospital would join the strike.

Medical Services Minister Anyang’ Nyong’o accused the officials of the union that is leading the national strike of rejecting negotiations and rushing to call a strike, terming their move reckless and irresponsible.

Nurses at the provincial and district hospitals in Mombasa took to the streets as they pushed for the registration of the stand-alone nurses’ union.

A union member, Peter Marogo, warned that nurses will not attend to any emergencies as earlier requested by the Provincial Director of Medical Services Maurice Siminyu, adding that they will only return to work after their union is registered.

Nurses at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret continued with their normal duties, but KNUN secretary general Samuel Cheserek told The Standard on phone that the nurses at the facility were waiting for communication from the hospital management before end of the day.

Reports by Ally Jamah, Linah Benyawa and Faith Ronoh – The Standard

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Article publié le lundi 3 décembre 2012
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